Once Upon a Sure Thing (Heartbreakers #2)

If I thought the first time with her was out of this world, I was wrong. This is galaxies better, because when you can both say I love you, it’s simply the best.

Afterward, I run my hand through her hair. “So, we’ll pick up Chloe tomorrow morning. Together?”

She laughs. “We will.”

“Can we tell her we’re a thing?”

Smiling, she answers, “I think she’s going to be quite happy.”

“I think so too.”

The next morning we take Chloe out for breakfast. Over pancakes, Ally clears her throat. “There’s something we need to tell you. Miller and I are involved now. We’re a couple.”

Chloe snort-laughs. “It took you long enough.”





Epilogue





Ally



I wrap my hands around a mug of tea and take a drink as Chloe searches under our little Christmas tree for a gift.

“Hmm. What should we open next?” she asks.

With my slippered feet tucked under me, I peer at the Christmas loot, hunting for a pretty green box containing a silver necklace I bought for her. It has a camera charm on it, and I hope she likes it.

“Miller, can you grab the green box with the silver bow?” I ask.

“Ho ho ho,” he says in a deep voice, and Chloe laughs. Then he whispers something to her. She nods excitedly.

“Don’t tell her what’s in it!” I chide.

A chuckle comes from Chloe, who covers her mouth, saying nothing.

“Found it,” Miller declares.

“Wait,” Chloe cuts in, grabbing another gift I can’t quite see. “You forgot this one from Santa, Ally.”

I set down my mug on the coffee table and wait to see what Chloe wants to give me from the jolly man in red. It’s a small white box with a red bow.

“Santa is so smart,” Chloe says.

“He really is. I wonder what he brought me,” I say, but really, I wonder what Miller bought me since he must be pretending to be Santa for her sake.

I unknot the bow, rip open the paper, and freeze.

My lips part, and wild hope rises in me. It’s a blue velvet box.

This can’t be . . .

I blink as I click it open, gasping when I’m blinded by a stunning diamond.

In a split second, Miller’s down on one knee, taking my hands in his. “Ally, you’re my best friend and the woman I adore. I’ve been falling in love with you for six years, and I don’t want to wait any longer for us to have this beautiful life together that I know we can have. Will you marry me?”

“Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.” My soprano voice hits a new high, and tears rain down.

Chloe claps and squeals. “Is that a yes?”

I laugh and cry, throwing my arms around Miller. “Yes. I want that more than anything.”

“Good.” His eyes find Chloe’s. “I want us all to be a family.”

“We already are,” I say.

“Then this makes it official.” He slides the ring on my finger, and it’s stunningly beautiful.

I hug him and kiss him chastely. Chloe jumps on the couch, sliding in next to me and staring at my ring. “I helped him pick it out.”

I laugh. “You’re an amazing ring elf. And you two worked fast.”

She leans her head against my shoulder. “Can I give you a gift now?”

“Of course.”

Chloe hands me a package, and when I open it, I find her smiling selfie inside. Only it’s not alone. She framed a picture of all of us in the coffee shop, with whipped cream on our faces.

“I love it. It’s perfect.” I give her a kiss on the forehead, then rub my hands together. “Okay, let’s see what else Santa brought.”

Chloe drops a hand on my knee. “Ally, I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

She takes a deep breath and fixes me with a serious stare. “I know Santa is really my mom.”

She thinks Santa is Lindsay? Oh God. I’m going to need to call Dr. Jane again. “Chloe,” I say quietly, but Chloe continues.

“Everyone knows that Santa is your parents.” She points at me. “So you’re Santa.”

My hand flies to my mouth. My eyes widen to moons. I can barely speak. As she roots around under the tree for another gift, I turn to Miller, mouthing, “She called me Mom?”

He nods. “Merry Christmas, Ally.”

I have more gifts than I ever expected, since I have everything I’ve ever wanted right here.





Another Epilogue





Ally



I scurry around my room, hunting for my favorite red sweater.

“Chloe, have you seen my red sweater? The one with the little pearl buttons?”

“No, but your phone is ringing,” she shouts from the living room.

“Crud. Can you answer it?” It’s probably Miller, but I’m going to be late to the New Year’s Eve party if I can’t find my sweater.

Seconds later, Chloe appears in my doorway. “Sure, Angie. She’s right here.” Chloe covers the phone to whisper, “Angie from Butler Press.”

I startle. She’s calling me on a holiday? I grab the phone as I fling open my bureau drawers. “Hey, Angie. Happy New Year.”

“It will be if you can say yes to a huge new opportunity.”

“Tell me what it is.”

As I hunt through my closet, I nearly drop my phone when she makes me an offer—an offer that’s going to do more for my future than a band would ever have done.

Just so I’m clear, I ask her, “You want me to be the voice for the lead singer in Girls Rule?”

Chloe shrieks, and I can barely hear Angie, but I make out enough. “Butler Press is owned by the same media conglomerate. The lead actress on the show has some vocal problems, and while she can still act on camera and do the speaking bits, she can’t handle the singing. So when they were looking for a voice actress to record the songs, I thought of you immediately. We need someone who sounds like a teenager and has a gorgeous singing voice. That’s you.”

And as Chloe bounces on her toes, I say yes to being the voice of the lead singer in an all-girls band on TV.

I don’t regret that I’m not being hired to be sexy, or to read a romance novel. They don’t need my vocal gymnastics.

I’ve won a job by being who I am.



*

A little later, we’re at Campbell’s toasting the New Year with the whole crew. Jackson is here with a Diet Coke, and I congratulate him on winning the scholarship.

“It’s a dream come true,” he says.

Sam passes out cinnamon eggnog, and Roxy chats with Mackenzie over cookies. Chloe plays Bananagrams with Kyle, and this is officially the best life ever. Miller slides up next to me, wraps an arm around me, and kisses my cheek. “Nice ring, future Mrs. Hart.”

I laugh. “Am I taking your stage name rather than your real name?”

“Ally Zimmerman, Ally Hart. All I care is that you’re mine.”

“I’m yours,” I whisper. “In fact, maybe we can convince Chloe to stay the night here, and you can take me to your place and use that ribbon you like so much.”

He growls in my ear. “Happy New Year to me.”

We kiss again, and I’m so glad we sang together once upon a time, and I’m so glad it didn’t work out. It’s better this way.

As the clock ticks closer to midnight, there’s a knock on the door.

“Who’s that?” Campbell asks as he strides to the door. “Everyone’s here.”

“Everyone’s not here,” a familiar voice shouts from the other side, “until you open the door.”

When Campbell unlocks the door, Miles strides in, a grin on his face, his son’s hand in his.

Campbell brings in Miles for a bro hug. “Good to see you, Dodgeball. What are you doing here?” When he lets go, he scoops up Ben and ruffles his hair.

Roxy gives a little wave, smiling. “Yeah, I thought you were in London?”

“I was, but I have a reason to be back.” Miles parks his hands on his hips and pins his gaze to Campbell’s. “You didn’t invite me to the party.”

“You were across an ocean,” Campbell says, as if he’s trying to sort out what his little brother is talking about.

Miles laughs. “I didn’t mean this party.”

Miller strides over to his brother, saying hi and clapping him on the back. “What party, then?”

Miles points to his brothers. “I hear you’re getting the band back together. Did you forget someone?”

My jaw drops.

Every jaw drops.

“Are you serious?” Miller asks, wonder in his voice.

Miles grins. “I want in.”